Англиискии для вас Новый курс XXI века

Exercise 17. Insert articles or possessive pronouns wherever necessary. Give a sum­mary of the text.

The man said to Hilary Graven, “My name's Jessop. I’m from ... British Intelligence Service. 1 think you’ve read in ... papers about ... disappearance of young scientists from time to time. Quite ... few physicists, chemists, biologists and other scientists with ... knowledge of... state security matters seem to disap­pear here, there and everywhere. Did they intend to go? Were they kidnapped?¹²³ These are ... questions you might help us to find out!"

Hilary stared at Mr Jessop, “Me? How?"

The latter went on, “I’m coming to ... case of Thomas Betterton. He’s ... young brilliant physicist. His research was connected with ... security matters. Two months ago he left for Paris to attend ... scientific conference. ... few days later he disappeared. His wife said she had no idea where he had gone or why. She didn’t seem to be anxious about ... husband. ... short while ago she left London saying to her friends that her health was badly affected and she needed a rest. We arranged to have her followed. It was bad luck that ... plane crashed here on landing¹²⁴ last night. Mrs Betterton was taken to ... hospital with ... bad injury. She will die in ... day or two.”

“How horrible!" said Hilary.

Jessop continued speaking, "... fact is that you resemble Mrs Betterton very much. We'd like you to substitute for her and do what she intended to.”

“But that's a gigantic hoax.¹²⁵” said Hilary slowly. “I'm sure they’d recog­nize me."

“That would depend on your acting properly. Do you feel like ... trying?" Jessop asked her.

“All right. I'll try to do this,” Hilary answered.

Exercise 18. Say if these statements are true or false. Give your reasons.

1. Mr Aristides was interested in assembling outstanding scientists to work on a scientific problem. 2. Hilary shared Mr .Aristides’s view that if a scientist had all he needed he might forget he was not free. 3. Mr Aristides believed that the scientists whom he kept in the Unit were able to produce creative work. 4. Mr Aristides agreed to let Thomas Betterton return home.